Diagnosis of parvovirus B19 infection by detection of specific immunoglobulin M antibody in saliva

Abstract

Serum and saliva samples were simultaneously collected from patients with B19 infection. Specimens were collected in a period of 1 to 18 days after the onset of symptoms. Saliva samples were collected with a commercial device, OraSure. The quality of these samples was evaluated by determining the concentration of total immunoglobulin G (IgG) by an enzyme immunoassay. The concentration of IgG in these samples ranged from 4.8 to >250 mg/liter. B19 infection was confirmed for 20 patients by testing sera in a 1:100 dilution by an IgM capture enzyme immunoassay (MACEIA) and an IgM capture hemadherence test (MACHAT). Saliva samples from these IgM-positive patients were tested neat by MACEIA and MACHAT. IgM could be detected in 11 of 20 (55%) samples by MACEIA and in 15 of 18 (83%) samples by MACHAT. Serum and saliva samples from a further 17 patients with rash were also tested. All of these specimens were unreactive by both assays. These results show that saliva may be a convenient alternative to serum for the diagnosis of recent B19 infection.

Human Parvoviruses

“…B19V-specific IgE has also been detected by line blot assays of breast milk and infant sera, perhaps providing further antiviral protection in nursing children (1092). Besides breast milk, B19V antibodies have also been detected in saliva and thumb prick blood samples, suggesting that these samples may be convenient alternatives to serum for the serodiagnosis of B19V infection (1093)(1094)(1095).…”